Drilling apparatus



W. H. SMITH DRILLING APPARATUS Sept. 11, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 14, 1948 INVENTOR.

WILL/19H /7. 5/1/77) Sept. 11', 1951 W. H. SMITH DRILLING APPARATUS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14, 1948 Patented Sept. 11 1951 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE DRILLING APPARATUS William H. Smith, Sullivan, Ind.

Apphcation September 14, 1948, Serial No. 49,159

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a drilling apparatus of the rotary typeadapted to operate at the lower end of a housing and supporting casingfor drilling vertical holes in the earth of the desired depth anddiameter for the purpose intended.

The principal feature of. the invention consists in providing a motordriven drilling and pumping unit which may be conveniently lowcred intoand removed from the bottom of the casing, to continuously dischargecuttings above ground so as to permit inspection and appraisal of thecurrent cuttings at all times during the drilling operation. This isaccomplished by providing a unitary structure consisting of asubmersible electric motor having a centrally disposed drive shaftconnected at its lower end through suitable reduction gears with anexpanding cutter, and at its upper end with a multistage turbine pump.The unit is suspended in the casing by a suitable hose in communicationwith the discharge end of the pump through which the cuttings aredischarged.

A further feature of the invention resides in the interlocking keys andkeyways interposed be= tween said unit and the housing casing forpreventing relative rotation therebetween. Said keys and keyways are soformed and related to each other as to interlock the unit inv the casingagainst axial displacement therebetween in the working direction, whilepermitting their axial displacement and disengagement to remove the unitfrom the casing when not working. Thus, upon downward pressure beingapplied to the casing to efiect the cutting operation, said keys andkeyways are positively interlocked. How ever, upon elevating thecasingthe said keys and keyways may be freed to permit angulardisplacement therebetweenv and free the unit from the casing so that itmay be elevated therefrom. The said keys and. keyways may be extendedlongitudinally or at any angle found advanta= geous in operation.

Another feature of the invention resides in the tapered race and packingextending about the lower end of the casing to expand and wedge againstthe wall of the hole to protect the strata being cut from the hazard ofcave insand disturbances of the higher strata and the above stratawater, and also permit at all times the elevation for inspection andappraisal of the current cuttings from the hole.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawingsand the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of the apparatus both below and aboveground with the cas- Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectional view of the lower end of thecasing with the unit removed.

Fig. 5 is a central vertical cross section through the packer.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5 with parts omitted.

In the drawings there is shown a well drilling apparatus for drilling ahole It] in the earth. Said apparatus includes a motor driven cuttingand pumping unit. Said unit comprises a submersible electric motor Imounted in a cylindrical housing l2 and including the motor field l3,rotor l4, and centrally disposed shaft l5 carried by the rotor to extendaxially of the housing [2. The lower end of said shaft is connected to aplanetary gear train including the planetary pinions l6 rotatablymounted on the spider l1 and meshing with the ring gear iii. The spiderI1 is provided with a downwardly extending stub shaft [9 rotatablysupported by suitable bearings carried by the housing [2. The lower endof the stub shaft I9 is secured to a chuck 20 for receiving anunderreaming rotary cutting device 2| of the well known roller orscraper type.

The upper end of the motor shaft I5 is keyed to a series of pumpimpellors 22 of which one is herein shown, adapted to operate in thepump housing 23 and having a series of discharge passages 24. Said pumphousing, shown in Fig. 1, is of the three stage turbine type with theintake end thereof provided with a strainer 25.

The upper end of the turbine pump is provided with a nipple 25 forreceiving a discharge hose 2'! which also serves as a cable for raisingand lowering the said unit. The motor H is electrically connected withthe power cable 28.

Said unit is adapted to operate within the well casing 39, which casingis of the desired diameter for the type and purposes of the hole beingdrilled and is of the usual sectional length, generally about twentyfeet. As is customary, said sections of the casing are joined toincrease the over-all length thereof as the well increases in depth. Forthis purpose there is provided the usual above ground structure whichmay be in the form of a mast or scaifolding schematically v illustratedand indicated at 3|.

Said scaffolding may he provided with an operating cage 3.2 suspended bya hoisting cable 33 which may be raised and lowered by a drum and winch.As the depth of the hole progresses the casing with the cage is lowereduntil the casing is substantially below ground; whereupon the cage israised and an additional section of casing is placed for lowering.

The lowermost casing has its lower end formed with peripherally disposedand spaced keyways 34 as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which keyways areof inverted U-shaped arrangement with their open portions terminating atthe lower edge-of 3 the casing. The lower end of the housing I2 isprovided with a series of longitudinally extending and peripherallyspaced keys 35 adapted to have a sliding fit within the keyways 34.

The above described arrangement is such that during the cuttingoperation the drilling unit carrying the keys 35 will be interlockedagainst rotation relative to the casing 30. Thus, the unit will be heldsteady and rigid within the casing which in turn will be firmly heldagainst rotation within the hole, as hereinafter described.

The keys 35 will also be interlocked within the keyways against verticaldisplacement in one direction. The inverted U-shaped keyways bear uponthe upper ends of the keys so that downward force applied to the casingwill be transmitted to the drilling unit during the drilling operation.At the top or upper end of the inverted U-shaped keyway 34 may beconstructed and secured, if found desirable, coil springs 34a againstwhich the upper end of the keys 35 come to fit, for the purpose ofabsorbing vibration that may be caused by the cutting operation.However, when it is desired to remove the drilling unit from the casing,the casing may then be slightly elevated until its keyways disengage thekeys 35. A slight angular displacement between the keys. and keyways maythen be effected by slightly rotating the drilling unit, whereupon itmay be raised with its keys 35 passing upwardly between the keyways 34.When it is desired to mount an additional section the drilling unit maythen be lowered until its keys lie below the keyways and the cuttinghead 2| rests on the bottom of the hole. The casing is then slightlyelevated, if necessary, and lowered after a slight turning movement ofthe unit with the keyways sliding over and embracing the keys 35, or thedrilling unit may then be raised to engage the keys and keyways.

Surrounding the lower end of the casing and secured to 'the exteriorwall thereof, there is a tapered sleeve 36 about which there is slidablymounted an expanding spring packer 31 suificient in size and spread tofrictionally bind against the wall I9 of the hole for sealing the upperpart thereof from the lower portion being cut to exclude excess waterand any cave ins therefrom. Said spring packer is of a character havingan outer spring metal shell with a core of rubber or rubberizedmaterial. By reason of the tapered sleeve 35 the packer will becomewedged between the casing and wall of the hole to provide an effectiveseal therebetween as the casing is lowered, but will slide downwardlyabout the sleeve out of such wedging and sealing engagement upon thecasing being raised to free its keyways 34 from the keys 35 of the unit.Thus, the initial friction between the Wall of the hole and the packer31 will be increased as the drilling progresses and the packer is forcedupwardly relative to the tapered sleeve, while tending to be relievedupon elevating the casing.

In operation the drilling unit may be lowered from the top level of theground to operating position by the supporting cable 2! to the desireddepth wherein its keys 35 will be below the inverted U-shaped keyways 34of the casing. Thereupon the unit is rotated to such position relativeto the casing that it may be raised, or the casing lowered with the keysand keyways engaged. In this position the cutting head 2| will beslightly below the lower end of the casing so that when the casing islowered and the cutting head comes in contact with the bottom of thehole, pressure applied thereon by the weight of the casing will expandthe cutters so that upon operating the motor they will cut the hole tothe required diameter. During the cutting operation the packer willprotect the lower portion of the hole and the cuttings will be pumpedupwardly between the casing and the unit housing to the strainer 25 01'the pump 23. They will be discharged above ground through the cabledischarge hose 21. If, due to the depth of the hole, additional pumpingrequirements are necessi tated, one or more additional pump units may beadded in series with the pump units 23. Proper application of pressureto the cutting unit may be determined through the employment of weightmeasures showing the dead weight and decrease thereof, or through theemployment of an electric ammeter to indicate the motor load. In eventadditional water is required for the cutting operation, it may be addeddown the open hole or injected into the casing 30 to seep through to thebottom. However, this is seldom necessary as the formation being cutgenerally supplies an excess of water to be excluded.

When it is desired to withdraw the cutting unit from the casing, thecasing may be slightly raised to free the keyways and keys, 34 and 35;whereupon said unit may be slightly rotated to a position where its keysare positioned between the keyways so that it may be raised from thecasing. Thus the unit may be readily removed from the casing at thecompletion of the cutting operation or for the purpose of addingadditional casing sections.

From the above it will be noted that multiple and diameter decreasinglengths of easing are eliminated, as only one span of casing isnecessary and may be of any diameter determined to be the mostapplicable. A concisely round hole will be drilled, eliminating thedrift from perpendicular and the hazard of caving and disturbances ofterrestrial strata, and the breaking of natural water and gas seals. Theabove strata water is excluded from the working horizon by the packer,thereby permitting at all times the elevation for inspection andap'praisal of current cuttings from the hole. Furthermore, eliminationof all pressure from the strata being out either from the above stratastatic Water pressure or operational applied pressure. The casing may beleft in the hole for permanent installation as the currentexamination ofcuttings may be employed to determine the most opportune time todiscontinue drilling and eliminate the necessity of cementing orotherwise sealing the hole for proper operation. By increasing thespread of the cutters, reservoirs of concise size and depth may be cutat any chosen horizon for the accumulation of liquids, therebyincreasing the productivity of liquid flow from the chosen strata andthe ultimate volume recovery.

A modified form of packer is shown in Fig. 5 and Fig.5, said packercomprising a plurality of laminated spring members I31 peripherallymounted about the outside of the casing 30 near the extreme lower endthereof. The loose end portions of said members extend upwardly andoutwardly and then slightly inwardly to avoid catching or bindingagainst the wall of the excavated hole.

Within the laminated curved members there is fitted a lining of rubberor rubber composition I38 for excluding excess water from above thewater bearing strata. Whenever the height of the column of water aboveany given portion or point of the packer is greater than the hei ht ofthe column of water underneath any given portion or point of the packerthen there will be exerted downward a pressure in direct proportion tothe height of the column of water above the packer is causin it to bindmore tightly against the wall of the excavated hol e, thus pro viding aseal against the passage of additional water from above the packer.

if additional stabilization of the lower end of the casing is necessaryit may be provided by three or more curved equally spaced spring membersI39 pivotally and peripherally mounted upon the outside of the casingwith their extreme spring spread sufficient to contact and bind byfriction against the wall of the excavated hole and with their oppositeend portions outwardly turned providing movement against the wall of thehousing casing as contraction and expansions requires.

The invention claimed is:

1. A drilling apparatus of the rotary type adapted to be positioned atthe end of a well casing, including a motor driven pumping and cuttingunit of generally cylindrical form and of less diameter than said casingto provide a space thereabout and within said casing for the passage ofcuttings, said unit comprising an electric motor having an axiallydisposed shaft driven thereby, an expanding cutter secured to the lowerend of said shaft, a turbine pump rotatable with said shaft having itsintake communicating with said space, and a discharge connectioncommunicating with said pump to extend through said casing fordelivering cuttings from said space above ground during the drillingoperation.

2. A drilling apparatus including a casing adapted to extend downwardlyin the hole being drilled, a motor driven cutting and pumping unit ofless diameter than and spaced inwardly of said casing movabletherethrough, said unit comprising an electric motor having an axiallydisposed shaft, an expanding cutter secured to the lower end of saidshaft, a pump rotatable with said shaft having its intake open to thespace between said casing and unit, said pump discharging into an aboveground outlet connection, and interlocking keys and keyways on said unitand easing, respectively, slidabl engageable to prevent relativerotation therebetween, said key- Ways having obstructions to preventrelative axial displacement of said keys in one direction when engagedwhile permitting axial displacement in the opposite direction fordisengagement to permit said unit to be withdrawn from said casing.

3. A drilling apparatus including a casing adapted to extend downwardlyin the hole being drilled, a motor driven cutting and pumping unit ofless diameter than said casing movable therethrough, said unitcomprisingan electric motor having an axially disposed shaft, anexpanding cutter secured to the lower end of said shaft, a pumprotatable with said shaft. having its" intake within said casing and anabove ground outlet connection, and a series of interlocking elements onsaid unit and easing, respectively, one series of said elements beinggenerally U- shaped to provide pockets for slidably receiving said otherseries of elements and prevent relative rotation between said unit andeasing, said U-shaped pockets preventing axial relative displacement ofsaid unit and casing in one direction while permitting displacement inthe opposite direction for freeing said elements from interlocking enagement,

4. A drilling apparatus including 4 a casing adapted to extenddownwardly in the hole being drilled, a motor driven cutting and pumpingunit of less diameter than said casing movable theretlirougli, said unitcomprising an electric motor having an axially disposed shaft, ex=panding cutter secured to the lower end of said shaft, a pum rotatablewith said shaft having its intake within said casing and an above groundoutlet connection, a series of in verted U-shaped keyways provided onthe inner surface of said casing adjacent the lower end thereof, and aseries of coacting keys provided on the lower end of said unit forinterlocking engagement therewith.

5. A drilling apparatus including a casing adapted to extend downwardlyin the hole being drilled, a motor driven cutting and pumping unit ofless diameter than said casing to provide a passage space therebetweenand movable therethrough, said unit comprising an electric motor havingan axially disposed shaft, an expanding cutter secured to the lower endof said shaft, a pump rotatable with said shaft having its intakecommunicating with said space within said casing and an above groundoutlet connection, and a spring encased compressible packer mounted onthe lower end of said casing to extend radially from the outer wallthereof into sealing engagement with the wall of the hole being drilled.

6. A drilling apparatus including a casing adapted to extend downwardlyin the hole being drilled, a motor driven cutting and pumping unit ofless diameter than said casing to provide a passage space therebetweenand movable therethrough, said unit comprising an electric motor havingan axially disposed shaft, an expanding cutter secured to the lower endof said shaft, a pump rotatable with said shaft having its intakecommunicating with said space within said casing and an above groundoutlet connection, a tapered sleeve secured about the outer periphery ofsaid casing adjacent the lower end thereof to flare upwardly andoutwardly therefrom, and a compressible packing ring slidably mountedabout said sleeve for spreading and wedging engagement with the wall ofthe hole being drilled upon the casing being moved downwardly therein.

WILLIAM H. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 196,220 Gordon et a1 Oct. 16,1877 1,350,059 Blackwell Aug. 17, 1920 1,380,203 Glick May 31, 19211,406,348 Corrigan Feb. 14, 1922 1,501,481 Frazier July 15, 19241,555,918 Friesen Oct. 6, 1925 1,717,271 Simmons June 11, 1929 1,736,254Davis Nov. 19, 1929 1,777,961 Capeliuschnicoff Oct. 7, 1930 1,799,559Hunicke Apr. 7, 1931 1,880,217 Simmons Oct. 4, 1932 2,105,091 MacKayJan. 11, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,443 Great Britain1904 626,830 Germany Mar. 6, 1936

